Tue, Feb 07 2012

Maldives president orders probe into alleged $2M bribe to recognise Kosovo

Wed, Mar 11 2009 10:36 CET 7358 Views 23 Comments
Maldives president orders probe into alleged $2M bribe to recognise Kosovo

TROUBLED WATERS? The apparent tranquility of the Maldives has been disturbed by allegations that government officials accepted a bribe to ensure the country recognised Kosovo as independent.

Photo: Wikipedia

The president of Maldives, Muhamed Nashid, has ordered police to investigate allegations that government officials accepted a $2 million bribe to recognise Kosovo as independent, media in the Maldives and Serbia reported.

The allegations were made at the beginning of March by the opposition Islamic Democratic Party.

Maldives foreign minister Ahmed Shaheed rejected the allegations as false.

In an interview with website miadhu.com, Shaheed said that the government believed that recognising the independence of Kosovo was essential to a 100 per cent Islamic country like the Maldives.

Before formal recognition, wide discussions on the subject were held with several countries providing support and assistance to Maldives. He said none of the countries with which the discussions were held had any objections.

"We held discussion with neighbouring countries, European countries, Islamic countries as well as the US on the issue" and " also had discussions with Kosovo opposition parties as well as the Kosovo government," Shaheed was quoted as saying. The countries with which discussions were held included the United States, United Kingdom and India, reports said.

Kosovo's past was full of bloodshed and when they announced their independence with great difficulty, "we as a Muslim nation, must support and recognise it," Shaheed said.

Shaheed said that as Maldives was currently seeking a UN Security Council seat, accepting such independence was vital and essential.

Soon after Maldives announced on February 19 2009 that it was recognising Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on February 17 2008 and is recognised as independent by 56 out of 192 UN member states, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton thanked Maldives for its decision.

In a message sent to Shaheed, Clinton said that the government's decision greatly contributed to efforts to promote a stable and prosperous future for Kosovo and the Western Balkans, Maldives media reported.

Expressing hope that other countries will follow the Maldives example in recognising Kosovo in the near future, Clinton welcomed Shaheed's efforts to encourage other countries to support Kosovo.  

  • Print
  • Send via email
  • Translate to
  • Share:

Comments

Anonymous xedhan Sun, Mar 07 2010 16:29 CET

bad

AnonymouslawmunfoFri, May 01 2009 09:58 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained

Anonymous Branimir Maksimovic Sun, Mar 29 2009 17:19 CET

Illyrian princess, i do not usually like to pick out ones name and comment on something really which is STUPID but this time i think i just might.

Who are you? are you an illyrian or albanian, were do you come from, how did you get there, were does your language gain its roots from and were do your people get there religion(s) from?

First and formost if you were smart you will never comment on here again, because really all you are doing is putting your own people down. Now the [...]

Read the full comment ottoman empire, which was mighty for its own reasons did not do things the way the albanian went about things.. The ottomans or as we know them today the turks, occupied land first by force then with smart talk and way of politics kept to some level peace.. i personally dislike this part in history but its there. From 1941-45 more serbs were killed in 1 concentration camp then there were known murders by turks upon Serbs in the 500 year occupation. from the time the albanians made the Prizren league in 1878 there have been more serbs expelled by force then the 500 years of ottoman occupation. The demographic pictureof kosovo and metohija only changed by the use of force, and the arnauti/arbanasi/illyrian/albanians can only be proud of one thing. That there people have created a society by all means opposite of what a human knows as good and once he started on such a path he never stopped. Such a path will lead you no were, and it will come to a stop. i hope sooner then later..

On this earth and as time goes on people learn things and the mistakes the human race made in past societies he will fix in the next. Have you wondered why the chinese are so superior today, because it takes time and courage and you must solve all problems, understand the human from inside out to make a stable community and society. This is something the albanian people have not done, and it either must change to survive or continue on a path of self destruction.

That is why you must now except,Kosovo Is part of Serbia and that wont change :-)

Anonymous Branimir Maksimovic Sun, Mar 29 2009 11:24 CET

Narrow minded people, Unbelievable, uninformed. Kosovo is Serbian.

Anonymous Illyrian Princess Fri, Mar 13 2009 20:56 CET

Kosovo is Independent. Period. Let it go. It is not Serbia and never will be.

The Ottoman Empire did more casualties than Albanians did to Serbian properties?


...Are you kidding me? Can you please write down the comparisons. Thanks, I would appreciate it.

Anonymous Jelena Fri, Mar 13 2009 15:04 CET

Kosovo is not independent; it is still province of Serbia, although internationally governed one. To claim anything else is to prove delusion of living in make-believe land, where everything is possible, and where everybody is prince or princess…
Unfortunately reality is something else. Living in reality means that you are able to analyze situations and draw conclusions, among other things, and that you are able to understand what your actions and statements mean. So that when you say “all is fair in war” to justify atrocities committed by Albanians, it has to be applied to the other side [...]

Read the full comment – Serbians - as well.

Anonymous Ivan Sipokaric Fri, Mar 13 2009 10:31 CET

Can someone please post what albanians did to serbs and serbian properties as well as christian monasteries and churches in Kosovo since the Serbian army left the Kosovo in 1999?

I know they did more bad things in few years then Ottomans did in 500 years.Ottomans even let Serbs build the churches and move freely.And that was 500 years ago.And now in 21st century people cannot move freely and princess is talking about independence.

Off I go now, won't come back.

Anonymous Ivan Sipokaric Fri, Mar 13 2009 10:16 CET

Ok.Now let's finish this "millions of people died in balkan wars and serbs killed all of them" thing.

Links bellow are official.Maybe you should bribe the owner of the site to change the data manually and add 6 zeros.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_War
Casualties and losses
KLA: 5,000+ killed [3]
NATO: 2 non-combat deaths[4]
Flag of Serbia Flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 703 killed [5][6]
Around 100 Albanian civilians killed by NATO forces [7]
NATO bombings: Human Rights Watch was only [...]

Read the full comment able to verify 500 civilian deaths throughout Yugoslavia, [8][9] with other sources stating from 1,200 to 5,700 [8]

I only see 5000+ KLA fighters killed.Where are civilians?What civilians?You said millions?Thousands?Hundreds?
All lies.

Then we go to Croatia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_War_of_Independence

About 10,000[12] or about 20,000 [13][14][15][16] killed on both sides

I don't see millions?Do you?
Again, all you do is spreading lies and ethnic hatred but any man with half the brain in the scull can find the truth in approximately 3 seconds online.

SO all in all in all of balkan wars total of 120,000 people were killed.KLA terrorist, only 5000+.About 500 of them by NATO bombs.Including 100 civilians.They call dead civilians collateral damage.Now let's see serbian civilian casualties in Kosovo war = 500 - 5000.Interesting, serbian civilians must shot themselves.Every single Serb.You didn't mention that when you said Kosovo is independent.It can't be independent because of the bad things you did to civilians.It's just common logic.Your logic.

And the last thing I will say and won't come here anymore, I have work to do and I don't have time to fight with lairs over the internet - war is stupid thing.People, innocent people always die there.No mater of nationality.Even if 10 people died in balkan wars, that's just bad.But keeps spreading lies that millions are died and use dead and blame other for killing them - that's propaganda.Bad one.And that's just stupid.

Ciao

Anonymous jrob Fri, Mar 13 2009 06:00 CET

Looks like some know-nothing spreading that 'greater Serbia' garbage down below.

There is zero evidence of anyone ever calling for a 'greater Serbia' and there is zero evidence that Milosevic was even a 'mad man'. These are the lies told by those that consider all WWII nazi genociders to be cuddly 'moderates'.


Anonymous Illyrian Princess Thu, Mar 12 2009 20:13 CET

You see jordan, the only difference between you and me is that I call it as it is. I do not call anybody a terrorist nor do I try to spread propaganda. I am a normal law abiding citizen who wishes to express her opinion.

Now, as far as war; all is fair. If your people were attacked, what would you do? Just sit and wait there to be killed? No. You would pick up a weapon and defend yourself. Both sides commited killings, but ask yourself: Doesn't it seem like history always repeats itself for [...]

Read the full comment Serbia? First Croatia, then Bosnia, then Kosovo. What is next?

Also, "these people" did nothing wrong than being Albanians as well. Do not try to justify the way the Serbian government was/is.

Come on! Give me a break! Who said "millions of people killed by serbs?" Can you please point me to those words you accuse me of? In my opinion though, close to a million were probably killed if you want to add Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo together. Just a thought.

Kosovo is Independent. You are mad. It's ok; we forgive you. Now...let it GO.

Anonymous Jordan Thu, Mar 12 2009 18:03 CET

Now let's see.First you tried to make Serbs look bad, talked about millions of people killed by Serbs, said that Serbs never been to Kosovo, Serbs this Serbs that but at the end when true facts were presented you decided to go with words :
"Kosovo is Independent and that is how it will stay. You can't change that. You also can't change the fact that Serbian forces murdered innocent civilians and Albanians had to fight back against that; all is fair in war."

Let me remind you that albanians killed serbs as well.Normal [...]

Read the full comment serbian civilians without guns.These people did nothing wrong beside being serbs albanian dominated region in Serbia.

So I will take your logic and say this: "Kosovo is Not Independent and that is how it will stay. You can't change that. You also can't change the fact that Albanian terrorists murdered innocent civilians and Serbian army had to fight back against that and protect law and order of one international recognized country with constitution; all is fair in war."

Anonymous Illyrian Princess Thu, Mar 12 2009 17:35 CET

There is only one fact and that proves it today: Kosovo is Independent and that is how it will stay. You can't change that. You also can't change the fact that Serbian forces murdered innocent civilians and Albanians had to fight back against that; all is fair in war. You also can't change the fact that there are Serbian churches in Kosovo, as well as art---BUT, Serbians did not care and made war in their own "supposed" land instead. So much for caring. There are also churches where Albanians attend, in case nobody knew.Lastly, you can not change the fact [...]

Read the full comment that Kosovo is free and Serbia needs to move on. There is no more Greater Serbia and there is no more Yugoslavia.

And Jelena, why would you not be surprised? Are you actually that fast in jumping to conclusions? Whew---that must have been a challenge for you since you seem like you know for a fact that they bribed Maldives.

Christ! Give me a break, will ya!!

Anonymous Jordan Thu, Mar 12 2009 15:29 CET

Where did you get that data that only 10% Serbs inhabited Kosovo?Show us link or you are just another albanian spreading lies about Kosovo and Serbs.

Here is link:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Kosovo

Archeological findings show that Bronze and Iron Age tombs were found only in Metohia, not in Kosovo proper.

Romans, Greeks and Thraco-Illyrians dominated the region of present Kosovo prior to the 5th century.

In the early 7th century, Serbs settled in Balkans (including Kosovo)[10]. In the 12th century, according to the [...]

Read the full comment Byzantine Empress Anna Angelina Komnenos, the Serbs were the main inhabitants of Kosovo (Eastern Dalmatia and former Moesia Superior)[11]. Archeological findings from the 7th century onwards show a Serb (Slavic) cultural domination in case of glagolithic letters, pottery, cemeteries, churches and monasteries[12].

Check link for more data and proof that albanians are the ones spreading lies and lies only.

Anonymous mike Thu, Mar 12 2009 15:18 CET

bribe?
what for moldives is a small country and if u bribe them with 2mil i wonder how much was needed to bribe all other over 50 states that recognise kosovo. i think that is media show.
i hear a lot that kosovo is the heart of serbia and sebia is born there and it is very strange that even when serbia had full control of kosovo never had more than 10 % serbs living in kosovo. so serbs say that kosovo is our craddle but we bild the creadle for albanians to be reased , [...]

Read the full comment serbs say kosovo is our heart but only albanian blood goes through this heart. dont you think that is some nonesense.

Anonymous Jelena Thu, Mar 12 2009 13:46 CET

I am sorry to break this to you, Sam, Adam and the rest, because the shock of realizing the truth can sometimes be very nasty… The truth in this case is that Kosovo IS Serbian land, and has been so for centuries with numerous historical monuments like churches and works of art to prove it. It doesn’t matter how big your delusion is, or how willing you are to block your ears and shout “it is not true, it is not true”, the reality around you is definite. Now you can try to destroy it, as you have started already, [...]

Read the full comment although you really can’t destroy records about it, and you can try to project the image of Serbians as killing and raping lot terrorising poor Albanians, although even that can’t last forever. What can last forever, and it will haunt you forever is truth that you know in your heart of hearts… And THAT truth is that you are impostors in a land that is not yours, was never yours and will never be yours.

Anonymous Ivan Sipokaric Thu, Mar 12 2009 13:30 CET

vali, kido, please learn history.Go to school.Don't burn churches down.You will go to hell.

Then, about your crazy comment, let me teach you the history.33% of Croatian population before WWII were SERBS.After WWII about 20-25% of Croatia were Serbs.About 250,000 - 700,000 Serbs, Jews and Gypsies were killed by the Croatian nazis.When Croatia split from Yugoslavia in 1991, Croatian government stripped the constitutional rights from Serbs in Croatia and made 20-25% of Croatian population(Serbs) minority!!!So tell me, what don't you understand here?Serbs didn't want history to be repeated and to be killed, Croats started kicking Serbs [...]

Read the full comment out of jobs,spreading fear etc, Serbs kicked Croats, it seems to me like normal thing in war.What's not normal was ethnically cleansing 250,000 Serbs by Croatian forces with the help of United States WHILE UN ADMINISTRATED Serbian territory inside Croatia.That's ethnic cleansing and people of the world don't know about it since it just not suits world media controlled by you know who.

Secondly, in Bosnia, Europe made a peace plan when riots begun, Serbs from Bosnia agreed but Muslim Bosnian leader Alija Izetbegovic refused the deal.He had some other plans.But I guess you don't want to know that since you have your agenda to steal Kosovo and spread lies about Serbs and Serbia.

Anyway, when you say serbs killed millions of people you are actually spreading lies and spread ethnic hatred-you should be jailed since you just said that I'm a killer as well and that I should be held responsible for Bosnian,Croatian and Serbian victims!

And the last thing, why didn't you mention how many Serbian civilians died in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo?I will remind you
----------------------
Casualty figures according to the Demographic Unit at the ICTY Total
102,622 Bosniaks & Croats c. 72,000
Serbs c. 30,700
Total civilians
55,261 Bosniaks & Croats c. 38,000
Serbs c. 16,700
Total soldiers
47,360 Bosniaks c. 28,000
Serbs c. 14,000
Croats c. 6,000
----------------------

SO WHERE DID YOU GET INFORMATION THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE KILLED BY SERBS???

You lied.Since that's the best thing you know.

Ciao

Anonymous vali Thu, Mar 12 2009 12:30 CET

first of all serbs have been starting trouble since they came to the ballkans from russia! second, when croatia, slovani and bosnia wanted to seperate from yugosllavia, serbia felt theat they could somehow prevent them from seperating, the serbs failed. and in doing so the serbian army and police killed at least 1 million inocent people in their terroristic tacticts of trying to prevent those countries from leaving yugosllavia! third there was kosovo. starting in 1997 the people of kosovo felt and were terrorized by the serbian army and police. in 1998 serbs started a war of ethinc cleansing in [...]

Read the full comment kosovo trying to get rid of all the albanians that lived in kosovo. in doing so they killed inocent people, men, women, children, they raped women, they stole from people, and they commited the crimes of the century after hitler they were second!
in conclusion, kosovo deserves their independece from these people who have no respect for their neighbors and for themselves and they have no hummanity in them at all, if the did, they would have not commited the crimes of the century!!!
long live Kosova, USA, EUROPE, MALDIVES AND ALLTHE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DONE A GOOD THING AND RECOGNIZED IT AND SAVED IT FROM the serbs.

Anonymous Branimir Maksimovic Thu, Mar 12 2009 10:44 CET

My fellow humans, there will always be the truth which will be supported by the facts. Truth is adam has no idea what he is sayin, fact is, the serbian nation was born from the land we call kosovo. In 1974 tito changed the constitution which granted autonamy for vojvodina and kosovo because of the ethnical picture those lands possesed. In the meantime the same constitution did not grant that same autonomy for , Dalmatia, Slavonia, hercegovina. Why? when the people which lived on those lands also shared the same if not more reason for a self goverment.. They were [...]

Read the full comment multicultural lands, multi religious and peaceful at the time. Another fact my friends is,Vojvodina and Kosovo were autonomous regions of the Socialist republic of serbia, which at the time was a republic with in SFRJ Yugoslavia. Now there facts, thats the truth. Dont play with the truth..!!!

Anonymous Miki Thu, Mar 12 2009 10:44 CET

We will let UN international law to decide that.

And you forgot to say that albos and turks kicked out serbs out of Kosovo.Where was USA to defend the serbs back then?Ohh yeah, Colombo was still in Portugal chasing babes or something.

Anonymous Adam Thu, Mar 12 2009 07:03 CET

@sam

yes, the country WAS Yugoslavia... Not serbia. It is a point serbs always ignore and Depend on others not understanding.

Yugoslavia NEVER equated to Serbia.

and Kosovo came into yugoslavia as an occupied territory and was only normalized much later within Yugoslaovia by having its own representation in the Yugoslav federal govt. EQUAL to that of serbia. That serbs later removed by Forced .. Not law.. by their madman Milosovic.

all the decades of violence in the balkans were by serbs against not [...]

Read the full comment only kosovar albanians but against there FELLOW slavs in trying to create out of Yugoslavia a greater Serbia Through Violence and Terror.

Serbian aplogist need to be reminded that There are Seven, Count them SEVEN NEW countries ..including Serbia itself formed out of serbia's failed attempt to control it all.

Yugoslavia was Never Serbia.

Anonymous 2 milion Thu, Mar 12 2009 01:45 CET

how you came to this idea, many easy to write nonsense, as you have arguments, evidence, you are unable man Clive Leviev-Sawyer

Anonymous Sam Wed, Mar 11 2009 23:19 CET

Jelena dont act mrs.innocent.
you know its just an lie of serbian media.
World will never forget serbian war crimes,genocide,massacre,ethnic cleaning in kosovo.thats why kosovo is independent, and it never was serbia , you invaded kosovo when you win your independent of ottoman empire (serbian independence of ottoman empire 1878)...
and kosovo was part of ex-yugoslavia ,you thought all yugoslavia is serbia ,well you were wrong, you can't ^own^ kosovo because it was part of yugoslavia, it was never yours.
there live 95% albanians (2mil)...
you better look at your [...]

Read the full comment economy in serbia.

Anonymous Hawk Wed, Mar 11 2009 16:10 CET

First of all, you must correct data in your article.
There are no 92 countries in UN, but 192!!!

Second, it is no good, from the point of the international law and UN charter, for someone to buy its "independence".
If that is the case then every Tom, Dick and Harry could ask Maldives to recognize its "independence", if they have 2M US dollars to bribe Maldive's president and government.

Anonymous Jelena Wed, Mar 11 2009 13:31 CET

Why am I not surprised?


To post comments, please, Login or Register.


Please read the The Sofia Echo forum comments policy.

Spain will never recognise Kosovo - Zapatero

Visiting Madrid, Serbian president Boris Tadic thanks prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero for Spain's unstinting opposition to Kosovo independence

United Nations Security Council to discuss Kosovo on March 23

UN Secretary General's report on the agenda, while UNMIK representative pursues talks diplomacy

US promises to lobby for more countries to recognise Kosovo - reports

Washington 'will continue to extend strong and substantial support for the world's youngest democracy' says secretary of state Hillary Clinton

Kosovo: year one

On February 17 2009, the former Serbian province of Kosovo celebrated the first anniversary of its independence with a series of events in the capital Pristina.

Serbia will never recognize an independent Kosovo - Tadić

Serbia will never recognize an independent Kosovo, Serbia president Boris Tadić said on February 14 at a Serbian Army exercise in Novi Sad.

More in this category

Poll: Obama leads Romney in hypothetical election matchup

The poll, conducted last week among a random sample of 1000 adults, shows half of those surveyed approve of the president's job performance and believe he deserves a second term.

Polls: Minnesota caucus a toss-up among Republican presidential hopefuls

The next caucuses take place on February 7 in the states of Colorado and Minnesota. The front-runner so far, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, appears poised in Colorado for a repeat of his solid victory in nearby Nevada.

Polish PM Tusk postpones ratification of ACTA

Tusk said that his government had made insufficient consultations before signing the agreement in late January, and it was necessary to ensure it was entirely safe for Polish citizens.

Russia criticises EU's foreign policy chief for 'interfering'

Ashton urged the Russian government to engage in dialogue with the opposition and to review its decision to deny registration for the presidential election campaign to opposition leader Grigory Yavlinsky.

Turkey seeks life sentence for ex-military chief

General Ilker Basbug was arrested as a suspect in an alleged Internet campaign aimed at destabilising Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government.